Drink spike fear for pub smokers

A Scottish mother is calling for special measures to protect smokers' drinks from being spiked while they pop outside for a fag.

Gillian Taylor, 37, from Livingston, is angry that bars are forcing smokers to leave their glasses unattended.

The mother-of-three, whose drink was spiked last year, warned more women would become victims under the ban.

I think it is awful that people are being forced to leave their drinks​Scottish drink spike victim Gillian Taylor.

Taylor said she was outraged to see a sign outside some bars banning people from taking drinks outside after 8pm.

She told the BBC: "I think it is awful that people are being forced to leave their drinks with bouncers they don't know as well as on tables unattended.​

"There will be an awful lot more women finding their drinks spiked unless pubs stop this.

"They need to issue smokers with plastic cups or lids for their drinks.

"I woke up in hospital after I was spiked with opiates last year and was ill for at least a week afterwards. I wouldn't wish it on anyone."

To comment on this or any other story email us by clicking this link​

Your Comments​Robert Feal-Martinez​ via email 19/04/2006"Freedom to Choose have no desire to make Political capital from the un-intended consequences of a smoking ban, however it has to be said that in Scotland LA's in an over zealous way have created problems that way beyond the non effects of Passive Smoking. They are objecting to shelters, to awnings, and as has been reported before, non re-entry to clubs, and not protecting drinks left. I think readers should not that Dr Michael Siegel an Internationally renowned Anit Tobacco activist and scientist is appauled at the Lies being tols by ASH, the BHF, and HMG, not forgetting the Scottish Executive. Dr Siegel has spent half his life working to remove smoking from society but he believes these (zealots) have gone to far in their lies."

Anne Parkinson​ via email 20/04/2006"I'm also worried worried about that as well. Has anybody considered the safety of women and other vunderable people in all this?"

Alastair Elliott​ via email 20/04/2006"They really have not thought through this unecessary ban and the implications it brings, it leaves all Smokers being left vunerable and unprotected against crime and to be quite honest makes them easy targets. Why oh why are ventilation systems not looked at as a very safe alternative to bans."

Bill Gibson​ via email 20/04/2006"Within a letter dated the 1st of November 2004 I raised this particular issue with the then Deputy Health Minister, Rhona Brankin MSP. As is normal with the dictatorship that is the Scottish Executive my fears were totally ignored.

Now should an incident occur, the victim should take legal action against the Scottish Executive as they had been pre warned on the matter to which they failed to respond or act upon."

Martin McCullough​ via email 21/04/2006"Well that's it. My daughters both smoke, and apart from the dangers of having to stand outside, they are now in further danger from interfering psycopaths INSIDE the pubs.

The labour members of the executive will suffer for this at next year's election."

Bill Gibson​ via email 24/04/2006"Nicola Sturgeon and Nicol Stephen were also aware of my concerns and did nothing about it. Only Margo MacDonald and Brian Menteith were prepared to raise clear amendments to the Smoking Ban within the Health Bill. These were rejected by the Health Committee where the Scottish Executive holds a majority vote. Who would have believed that devolution would have seen the end of Democracy in Scotland and that we would be heading down the road of living under a Dictatorship."

Sandra Fitschen​ via email 24/04/2006"Maybe the Scottish lady who had her drink spiked and other people should smoke between drinks, one drink one smoke. That way they will not have the problem of leaving their drinks unattended. I`m against the smoking ban but if it is to be the law then I think we have to start finding ways to overcome problems not create new ones."

Bob Williams​ via email, 24/04/2006I see the Forest brigade are out clutching at straws again.

People are at just as much risk of drink spiking when they go to the toilet. If it happens then, we blame the perverts who spike drinks.

But if they are outside smoking its the Government to blame and not the perverts.

This is a drink spiking issue not a smoking ban issue, so why don't we have some constructive talk about the best way to avoid it rather than once again letting the Forest mob turn all our everyday problems into a reason not to have a ban.

Bill Gibson​ via email, 24/04/2006Sorry folks, you are sadly missing the point. it could happen to any one of us for that matter male or female. Alcohol has this habit of making people - especially younger people who may not have much experience of its potency - ever so slightly out of control, especially of their judgment. They may put misplaced trust in people and situations, including each other if they are out in groups.

The author of the letter has expressed a legitimate fear. It is unreasonable to expect everybody to react sensibly to restrictions on smoking when it is part of group culture for many and it is also mixed up with an intoxicating substance like alcohol. We are not dealing with a nation of mature people of advanced years and the benefit of hindsight and all the rest of it. We are dealing with US, everybody, all ages and occupations, all conditions of physical and mental health, loneliness contentment or whatever else with a single piece of unnecessary and unimaginative legislation.

In recent times we have been warned by publicans in Cork about the potential increase in drug trafficing as a result of increased movement at the entrances of venues when patrons having to go outside for a cigarette. This issue has also been on the increase in Paceville, the main nightspot in Malta and therefore is a potential problem here that Government needs to address. They won't however as they will push the issue back to the trade to incraese security measures.

Robert Feal-Martinez​ via email, 25/04/2006Bob I find your comments somewhat strange, you seem to be saying because it happens anyway that compounding it by the actions of the SE makes it alright.

What a bizarre reasoning!

As for branding everyone who speaks out against this draconian measure Forest supporters would be like me saying 'you are an anti-smoking ASH supprter', I do not know that any more than you do about any other poster. For my part I am not pro smoking, I am pro choice. Democracy it used to be called before New Labour came to power and as we read today in the National Press they are trying to give themselves powers to ignore Parliament and change laws when it suits them. I mention it because clause 26, I think, in the health bill, attempts to do the same thing.

Fortunately there are Peers that are wise to it. Shame the SE doesn't have an upper chamber, then perhaps democracy could have prevailed in Scotland where 76% of the public wanted choice.

As another poster said there will be a lot of MSP's looking for a new job next year, as has already been